A SEA World worker accused of holding up a service station with a knife did so because she thought she was being “gypped” when her debit card did not work, a court was told.
Jordan Elizabeth Lau was allegedly trying to buy pies and cigarettes when she threatened the service station attendant at the BP in Bundall about 8.30pm on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old was given bail after she appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday facing charges of armed robbery and stealing.
Magistrate Kerry Magee said: “It is extremely disturbing that young people go around arming themselves with knives.
“This is an extremely serious offence.”
Magistrate Magee said the risk of reoffending could be reduced by including bail conditions such as a residential address, a curfew between 8pm and 6am, regular reporting to police and a ban on attending the Bundall BP.
It is alleged Lau and another 18 year old made threats after attempting to buy pies and cigarettes.
Duty lawyer Ross Oden said Lau had been drinking with “some illicit drug use” in the lead up to the alleged armed robbery.
“That caused her to be in a state where she was not thinking straight,” he said.
Mr Oden said she was asked to get food.
When she was paying she tried to tap her debit card twice and thought a transaction had been made, he said.
“She thought she was being gypped for a packet of cigarettes,” Mr Oden said. “She had a lot of substances which made her belligerent.”
Mr Oden said Lau worked full-time in retail at Sea World and lived with her boyfriend in Benowa.
The matter will return to court in the coming weeks.
A second 18-year-old charged over the alleged incident will appear in court on January 21.
Extracted from Gold Coast Bulletin